Radiation-resistant headgear

ABSTRACT

A headgear is configured with a fabric for protecting the head from electromagnetic radiation. An ear protector with a fabric for protecting the ear from electromagnetic radiation is movably mounted to the hat between an operational position, in which it covers the auditory canal of an ear, and a rest position in which it comes to rest in the cap. The ear protector flap can be pulled out of the cap into its operational position similar to a drawer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copending international application No. PCT/DE02/04328, filed Nov. 26, 2002, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application No. 202 05 088.2, filed Apr. 1, 2002 and German patent application No. 202 08 273.3, filed May 27, 2002; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to headgear comprising a fabric for shielding a head against electromagnetic radiation.

Such headgear is generally known from the prior art. There are fabrics which consist of materials with which electromagnetic radiation can be shielded. Such fabrics can also be used for headgear.

In some cases, it is inadequate to shield the head in the region wherein headgear is normally put on. For example, when telephoning with mobile telephones, either as a mobile part of a fixed network connection or as a mobile radio telephone (cell phone—also designated “handy” in some countries), an increased amount of electromagnetic radiation occurs in the vicinity of the ear and, in particular, of the auditory canal. A fabric to shield a head against electromagnetic radiation, and headgear produced from this, has the disadvantage that the ears continue to be exposed and are subjected to electromagnetic radiation during telephoning.

Worldwide, millions of human beings telephone using a mobile radio device and take advantage of all the other services which are therefore available, such as SMS (short message service), etc. The many millions of users are not generally very aware of radiation dangers that originate to a greater or lesser extent from mobile radio devices. The scientific community, however, more and more frequently points to the risks of radiation from mobile radio devices. With or without the awareness, most users would still not use any of the prior art protectors because they are bulky, unwieldy, and unsightly. Also, the prior art protectors lack any features of convertibility and adaptation to other uses or to temporary non-use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a head protector with radiation shield which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which provides for a radiation-resistant headgear which, in the most direct way, protects bodily regions of the head affected by electromagnetic radiation when communicating with a mobile radio device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a head protector, comprising:

-   a cap part with a fabric for shielding a head against     electromagnetic radiation; -   an ear protector with a fabric for protecting an ear against     electromagnetic radiation; -   the ear protector being attached to the cap part movably between an     operating position, wherein the ear protector covers an auditory     canal of an ear, and in a rest position, wherein the ear protector     overlaps the cap part.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the ear protector, which is preferably in the form of a flap, is mounted to be movable substantially in a vertical direction with a wearer in an upright position.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the ear protector is mounted to be movable relative to the cap part substantially in a manner of a Venetian blind and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a wearer.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the ear protector protects an upper region of an ear when in the rest position. It is further preferred for the ear protector to have an opening positioned over an auditory canal.

In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the fabric for shielding the head against electromagnetic radiation and the fabric for shielding the ear against electromagnetic radiation comprise fine wire filaments. Preferably, the wire filaments are introduced between an internal liner and an outer cover of the cap that is visible during wearing.

The headgear according to the invention has an ear protector which is equipped with the same or with another fabric for shielding against electromagnetic radiation as the rest of the headgear. By using such headgear when telephoning, the brain and the auditory canal are affected less by electromagnetic radiation, so that less radiation damage will also occur.

The ear protector may have an opening which is positioned over an auditory canal. The shielding of the ear protector is provided over a larger region than the bodily arrangement of the ear protector and is even effective in the region of the opening. The opening in turn makes hearing easier, since the acoustic signals from the mobile radio to the auditory canal can be led through more easily than through the fabric.

The fact that the protector is formed in the manner of a flap makes it possible to easily move the protector away from its position over the ear if it is not intended to telephone and to pull it down over the ear only when the mobile radio device is held up to the ear in order to telephone.

In one embodiment, the ear protector is fixed to a movement rivet such that it can be pivoted. As a result, on account of relatively high friction, the ear protector can be rotated away from an ear in a self-retaining manner and requires no further fixing devices in order to hold it away from the ear.

In the preferred embodiment, the protector can be moved in the manner of a Venetian blind, or like a drawer, approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of a wearer when the headgear is situated on the head of the wearer. This makes it possible to fix the ear protector such that it can be displaced on the inner side of the headgear, so that the ear protector merely needs to be pushed out or in in a simple manner.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a radiation-resistant headgear, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a headgear cap according to the invention, with the ear flap folded out;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the headgear according to the invention with the ear protector folded in;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the headgear according to the invention with an ear protector moved out in the manner of a Venetian blind; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view illustrating the ear protector flap of FIG. 3 and a portion of the cap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of defense against radiation, systems have been developed which are incorporated in headgear. The systems are incorporated so as to fit the head accurately in an item of headgear, such as a hat, a cap, a forage cap, or the like. The headgear comprises an inner lining region and an outer region that can be seen when worn. Between these two regions, a lattice fabric corresponding to the shape of the head is incorporated, for example sewn in, woven in or the like. The lattice fabric is produced from materials which shield electromagnetic radiation. Such materials can be selected on the basis of the radiation produced, for example, of copper and silver alloys or all imaginable compounds or materials which are able to shield electromagnetic radiation and contribute to protecting the brain and the hearing. Fine wire filaments made of the appropriate materials enclose the head in any conceivable density and any conceivable guidance of the materials in the horizontal, vertical and diagonal directions. The processing to form headgear is to be carried out in such a way that stylish aspects are taken into account and wearing comfort is not impaired either. The designs of the shielding system in the inner region of the headgear can be implemented in any desired form as known from the prior art.

In one embodiment, the headgear has an ear protector which is formed in the manner of a flap which, when the headgear is worn on the head, can be folded or slipped over the ear or over the ears, so that the ear is protected in its entirety, including the auditory canal, during telephoning.

In another embodiment, the ear protector can be fixed to the headgear such that it can be pivoted. In a still further embodiment, the ear protector can also be incorporated in the headgear in the manner of a Venetian blind.

The headgear can have an ear protector for each ear or else only for one ear. The headgear can be produced in any way, in any shape or in any color as is known from the prior art.

All conceivable scientific findings, all materials and material uses, material combinations, densities, etc. are conceivable for the use in the headgear according to the invention and can be used by those skilled in the art as required and within the context of their knowledge.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an exemplary embodiment of a head protector (hat, cap, etc.) to illustrate schematically how the interior of headgear according to the invention can appear. A beak e/1 represents a shield belonging to the headgear, which comprises the fabric for shielding against electromagnetic radiation. A cap b/1 represents the actual headgear, which likewise comprises the fabric for shielding against electromagnetic radiation. An ear protector d/1 is formed with an opening f/1 over an auditory canal that is free of material. A movement rivet a/1 of the exemplary embodiment allows the ear protector d/1 to be pivoted into another position which is stylistically more pleasing when a mobile radio device is not being used.

FIG. 2 shows the headgear according to the invention without a visible illustration of the interior. The shield comprising the shielding material e/1 is located under the region e. Under the region b there is the headgear comprising the shielding material b/1. Under the region d there is the ear protector a/1 in a position when a mobile radio device is not being used. In another embodiment, not illustrated, the ear protector a/1 can also be fixed to an edge of the headgear b/1 such that it can be folded and can be folded downward into the headgear when the ear protector d/1 is not intended to be used. It is also possible to fold the ear protector d/1 onto the outer region of the headgear and to fix it there, for example by means of a touch and close fastener, press fasteners or tapes.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the preferred embodiment of the headgear according to the invention, this being cut in such a way that the upper region of an ear is covered by the headgear, being designated f/5 here. In this embodiment, the ear flap d/1 can be pushed in upward between an inner lining 6 and a visible outer covering 7 when the mobile radio device is not being used, and disappears into the headgear. The direction of movement of the ear protector d/1 is illustrated here by b/2 and a double arrow. The ear protector d/1 is pulled out of the headgear in a manner similar to a drawer, or like a Venetian blind, or like a pull tab, and pushed back into the headgear. The direction of movement when the headgear is put in place runs approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of a wearer. 

1. A head protector, comprising: a cap part with a fabric for shielding a head against electromagnetic radiation; an ear protector with a fabric for protecting an ear against electromagnetic radiation; said ear protector being attached to said cap part movably between an operating position, wherein said ear protector covers an auditory canal of an ear, and in a rest position, wherein said ear protector overlaps said cap part.
 2. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein said ear protector is mounted to be movable substantially in a vertical direction with a wearer in an upright position.
 3. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein said ear protector is mounted to be movable relative to said cap part substantially in a manner of a Venetian blind and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a wearer.
 4. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein said ear protector is a flap.
 5. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein said ear protector protects an upper region of an ear when in the rest position.
 6. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein said ear protector has an opening positioned over an auditory canal.
 7. The headgear according to claim 1, wherein said fabric for shielding the head against electromagnetic radiation and the fabric for shielding the ear against electromagnetic radiation comprise fine wire filaments.
 8. The headgear according to claim 7, wherein said wire filaments are introduced between an internal liner and an outer cover of the cap that is visible during wearing. 